1957

Franck Sylvain is elected President of Haiti and is later succeeded by an Executive Council of Government composed of thirteen members.  Soon after Daniel Fignole is elected President of Haiti and replaced by a Military Council of Government.

           

October 22

            Dr. Francois Duvalier is elected President of Haiti.

 

1964

The Duvalieriste Constitution establishing the Presidency for  Life is voted by the National Assembly, and Dr. Francois Duvalier becames President for Life of Haiti.

1968

October 28

The first Haitian Archbishop, Francois Wolf Ligonde, is consecrated at the Cathedral of Port-au-Prince.

 

1971

February 

The National Assembly approves for a constitutional admendment that enables Francois Duvalier to name his son, Jean-Claude, as his successor.

 

April 21

            President for Life Francois Duvalier dies in Port-au-Prince.

 

April 22

            Jean-Claude Duvalier succeeds his father as President for Life.

1974

The National Soccer Team of Haiti for the first time participates in the World Soccer Cup game in Munich, Germany. 

1977

April 15

The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Commission arrives in Haiti. The commission meets with the Haitian government and discusses the improvement of civil rights in Haiti.

  1980

May 27

President for Life Jean-Claude Duvalier weds Michele Bennett.

1983

March

            Pope Jean-Paul II arrives in Haiti. He is the first Pope to visit the Haitian territory.

 August 27

The Constitution is amended under the Presidency of Jean-Claude Duvalier to create the title of State Minister and to allow the President to name his successor.

1985

June 6

Jean-Claude Duvalier amends the Constitution and allows the creation for a new post of Prime Minister.

July

A Referendum is held in which 99.48% of voters approve the proposition to allow political parties to participate in the government while recognizing the Presidency for Life of Jean-Claude Duvalier.  This is followed by a constitutional amendment on the Presidency for Life.

 November 28

Three young schoolboys are killed in Gonaives during an anti-government demonstration.  They are: Jean-Robert Cius, Daniel Israel, and Mackenson Michel.

1986

January 31

            It is rumored in the capital that President Jean-Claude Duvalier had fled Haiti.

 February 3

The President and members of the Cabinet visit the commercial and residential areas of the capital to convince the population that they are still in power.

 February 7

Jean-Claude Duvalier flees Haiti for Talloires in France. The National Council of Government (CNG) (Conseil National de Gouvernement) is established. This interim Military-Civilian Government is presided by the Lieutenant General Henri Namphy as President, Colonels Williams Regala, Max Valles, Prosper Avril, and two civilians, Gerard Gourgue and Alix  Cineas, as members.  The Legislative Chamber and the VSN  body (Volontaire Securite Nationale- National Voluntary Security), the armed forces body of the Duvalier regime-are dissolved.

 February 25

The original blue and red flag is unfurled at the National Palace  replacing the black and red flag of the Duvalier regime.

Month of March

Daniel Fignole, former President of Haiti, receives a warm welcome in Haiti. A second version of the CNG is formed with Henri Namphy, Williams Regala, and Jacques A. Francois.

March 20

A demonstration is conducted by more than two thousand students and public transportation drivers of the city of Carrefour against the CNG.

April 26

            Fort-Dimanche is attacked by armed groups. Eight people are killed.

October 19

The CNG, which is governing Haiti under a decree without a constitution, invites the peple to elect forty-one constituents to draw up the new constitution.  The CNG appoints twenty more constituents to bring the total to sixty-one.

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